One Year

From my other blog. A post to celebrate a year smoke free.

I was a smoker for a long time. Why I started smoking is lost in time, but I’d bet it was because it was cool. Everyone who was portrayed smoking looked so wonderful. Smiles abounded and sophistication dripped from smokers. It was difficult to ignore because it was so, well cool. After all what teenager doesn’t want to be cool? There were two other factors in play at the time, there were no rules against selling to minors and cigarettes where cheap, you could get a pack for less than fifty cents. It wasn’t long before I was hooked.

Almost all aspects of my life included a cigarette; break schedules at work, ashtrays in living rooms and on the porch and lighters. Lighters were the source of great debate between smokers. Should it be a refillable or a disposable? It really didn’t matter once strikers for match books were moved to the back, but smoking got a grip on my life and wasn’t about to let go. The tar became a concern once I knew what its effect was. The nicotine was another story. Nicotine kept me smoking far beyond a time when I knew it was prudent to stop. My best guess is I was severely addicted to nicotine for at least 10, and perhaps even 20 years.

It had been a desire of mine to stop smoking for some time. Unfortunately one thing after another conspired to side track me from accomplishing the goal. It didn’t take much to side track me, shiny objects did well and a general dislike for uncomfortable come to mind. However, as it became apparent my health would be well served I consulted with my nurse practitioner on a course of action. She prescribe a course seemingly designed to allow for my foibles. I could smoke for a week while taking the initial dosage then quit in the second week while taking an adjusted dosage. The entire program was intended for 3 weeks.

It took me 12 weeks before I stopped smoking on April 20, 2008. By the end I didn’t care if I ever saw another cigarette as long as I lived. As hard as it may be to believe I didn’t have any cravings once I stopped. I don’t know how that happened, most people say it’s normal to have cravings. Okay, but I had none. It could be a challenge in the coming years of that I’m aware. However, I will also remember how hard it was to quit and how good I feel now that I have.

Here’s to another year smoke free!

Blog Move

The blog has moved to Lahdee.com effective July 12, 2008. I'll keep this blog for a few weeks as everything that was here has been moved over there except Little Miss Molly. As soon as we get her moved over we'll shut this one down.

Saturday the Twelveth

The Obama campaign has decided not to purchase a sponsorship on a NASCAR Sprint Cup car.

"The Obama campaign will not be sponsoring a car in the Sprint Cup series, though we will continue to look for ways to reach out to voters and convey Senator Obama's message of change." said Bill Burton, an Obama campaign spokesman.

The wrecking thing I guess. There’s always custom playing cards or even the Oscar Meyer Weinermobile. How about a nice Navy Blimp? Why not, it's patriotic. Besides, who needs a whimpy old flag pin when you've got a blimp. Now that would show some balls to those NASCAR Dads, eh?



It's been cloudy with thunderstorms over the last few days here in the desert. The three day forcast is for temperatures in the high 90's and the low 100's. Hardly seems like summer.

Passing By

Zero 7 says it all, I'm only passing by.

CNN says yes to Denver

CNN has announced it's coverage plans for the Democratic National Convention and it's not petulant at all. Good for CNN, they will cover it all and will then move it all over to Investco for good measure. Good on them.

Friday

I can't believe it's Friday already. I have been incredibly busy at work and the house has extracted it's cost to my time afterwards.

Since Barack Obama announced that he'll be accepting the nomination at Invesco field in Denver the networks, who had threatened petulance, have decided that it's petulance after all. Politico reported on it Tuesday.

Network executives expect Obama’s relatively late-breaking decision to speak at Invesco Field at Mile High, a 76,000-seat football stadium, could add hundreds of thousands of dollars in costs to already cash-strapped news divisions. Each network has budgeted millions to cover the political conventions, but that spending is already accounted for in specific costs ranging from hotel rooms to staffing to building convention platforms.

The, ahem, money quote.

“It’s an historic event, obviously,” said a network executive. “But everybody is working on a very tight budget.”

The poor, poor networks; the networks that make money hand over fist, the networks that moved their news operations into their entertainment or sports divisions, those same networks who think that spending money on your business is hard on their bottom line.

Do you really think these sellers of soap, these makers of immense quarterly profit, these moguls of mainstream thought, really have your best interests at heart? Heh

Wikipedia reminds us that today is the anniversary of the Burr-Hamilton duel in Weehawken, New Jersey. The view from the bluffs is spectacular. Too bad that on this day in 1804 it witnessed the death of one and the demise of the other.

Remember the Podium

Remember how in 2004 the podium at the RNCC was made to look like a cross? Seeing as McCain has problems with teleprompters and his stature is diminished by the presence of something as innocent as a lectern, I wonder what the designers will come up with this year.

By his own admission, McCain is not a great orator. He is ill-suited to lecterns (which often dwarf his small stature), and he tends to sound as if he is reading his lines, not speaking them.

Maybe they'll come up with something different this year, a windscreen designed to replicate a jet fighter cockpit, a barbecue pit arrangement or something buslike perhaps.

How dare they!

Jeers to the DNC and the Obama campaign for putting the profitability of the networks in jeopardy!
Now that Invesco Field is on the radar the networks are fretting.

This creates issues for the networks for whom the costly setup, transmission and overall operation of the first three days and nights now might mean moving production of the final night to the Denver Broncos football stadium. Workspaces, anchor locations and all that goes along with a remote network news production would have to be shuffled for the final night.

Poor bastards.

Catching up

Apparently I missed the celebration so I’ll just toss in my congratulations. Jesse Helms is dead. That’s good, I suppose. Good in that he won’t live forever and if he doesn’t perhaps the crap he peddled won’t either.

One Year

A year ago today I took possession of my first house. After many years in condos and apartments this was my first journey into home ownership. I was excited and I was anxious. In addition to the responsibilities and costs of a house there was a pool. Not just a nice small pool, but a nice deep diving pool. It didn't take long to learn about pool chemistry and algae outbreaks.

I'm not sorry I bought it although watching the housing market go to hell in a hand basket hasn't been a pleasant experience.

Dirty Hippies!

Wanna scare the majority of America's who aren't following the campaign, those who unthinkingly say that it's time for a Democrat cause dubya and his party screwed it up big time? Just do a sit-in at a Barack Obama campaign office. As suggested by Paul Rosenberg at Open Left a sit-in may be the way to finally get his attention on the FISA debacle.

One possibility is to up the pressure by sitting in at campaign offices this coming Monday. If people are truly serious about there commitment to the rule of law, this is a logical next step. Unlike other lawbreaking, civil disobedience upholds the law by willingly embracing the consequences of its actions in order to challenge injustice.

Can you hear the howling? It's the corporate media screaming "hippies", "radicals", "Chicago" and the use of just about every other imagery intended to make Democrats look immature and silly.

Protesters being dragged from an Obama campaign office, that image would for sure get the great middle's attention. Don't think it could happen? Try it in Maricopa County, almost anywhere in Mississippi or some parts of Georgia and South Carolina and watch as republicans rub their hands in glee. No, no sit-ins please. You want to pressure Obama then get to the super delegates. They have the power to get his attention, not some sit-in that may well obsure the real issues.

Breaking News

In a continuation of his move to the center/right Barack Obama’s campaign announced today that he’ll be giving his acceptance speech outdoors, in Minneapolis, at the Republican National Convention. Details to follow.

July Fourth

Hey, whattya know it’s the Fourth of July. Many folks in the US have the day off, some even with pay. There are those who will spend the day on call, salaried no doubt, and there are those who will work a full day for an hourly wage. Some of those people will get an increase in that rate to compensate for the holiday and some will be lucky their getting a paycheck at all.

We’ll all be reminded of what a great country this is and how the sacrifice of others got us all the freedoms we enjoy today; the freedom to be stupid, the freedom to ignore, and yes the freedom to wear a flag patch on our ass if we are so moved. But, those flag pins, don’t be screwing with those flag pins my friend.

As the Fourth of July approaches, six in 10 of those surveyed in a USA TODAY/Gallup Poll say sporting an American flag pin indicates that a person is patriotic…

What’s next an additional section in Title 4 of the United States Code (4 U.S.C. § 1 et seq). outlining safe pin disposal?

Will an entire industry spring up to honor worn out or frayed pins needing to be removed from public or will we dare allow citizens, and non-citizens for that matter, to dispose of our treasured flag pins as they so desire? Imagine the outrage when Islamo-facists, having scoured our land fills, secure disposed pins and hold protests where they are melted and remade into bullets.

And what of our car magnets, are they not important also? How can I honor our soldiers if I don’t have a flag pin and a flag magnet? I don’t have either. Oh noes, I’m not a patriot, I don’t love my country! Quick off to Walmart, they must have quality flag pins and magnets, don’t they?

Thursday

So it’s Thursday and I’m off work for a nice four day holiday. I’m hoping to get some work done on the main domain lahdee.com. Goodness knows I’ve been screwing around enough.

It’s not beer any more, but it is just as inane. AP reports

While many are still deciding who should be president, by 52 percent to 45 percent they would prefer having Obama than McCain to their summer cookout, according to an Associated Press-Yahoo News poll released Wednesday.

Yahoo, more bullshit, nonsense crap from AP. Next thing you know we’ll see Caroline Kennedy wearing sensible silver flats as she departs a meeting with the Hispanic caucus.

I remember working for Harry Mitchell’s campaign in the last cycle. On the day before the election I was outside his Tempe office talking with a fellow volunteer. We spoke of our hopes for Harry and to the end of dubya’s years as President. Much to my surprise the lady I was talking with said that she would like to see John McCain as President. As we discussed this it became apparent that her perception of McCain was not rooted in the facts. As I pointed out issues with his record she poo pooed them as products of “the liberal press.” Taegan Goddard reminds us

because his brand was cemented over years, he's been given more of a benefit of the doubt with the public.

This is why we attack John McCain’s record, this is why we question his leadership, to breakdown the myth and open some eyes. Sure it’s a struggle, but John is doing his part with silliness such as saying he knows not of the economy. Keep it up John, it only makes our job easier.

Stoopid

I've seen some discussion on the web about what constitutes stupid and how we're such an ignorant people; Sadaam had WMD, Obama's a Muslim, etc.. I've seen arguments about what someone said or didn't say, all the while the exact quote is available for everyone to see; lots and lots of cable TV hours burned up here. As long as mass media is controlled by corporations whose first priority is profit and not the citizenry's best interest there will be stupid. Unfortunately mass media is easy and good citizenship, well it takes work. Why bother if our media keeps reminding us we can't do anything about it anyway. Moron America, looks like we're stuck with it.

Oh, and did you hear about the wingnuts and whackjobs who are dissing Disney's newest animation, WALL-E? Seems that there's too many attacks on laziness and stupidity. No pun intended, but what planet are these people on?

History

Thirteen years ago today I got on an Airplane in Phoenix, AZ and moved to Seattle, WA. I didn't know a soul in Seattle and had never been there. My only reason for going was that I didn't like living in Phoenix, couldn't handle the heat and missed seeing "weather." Ten years after leaving I returned having missed sun and warmth. We are fickle creatures are we not?

Got a kick out of Digby's Does Anyone Have A Spare Lace Hankie? Oh the outrage! It's so pathetic it's funny, and who'd a thunk the republicans would be this funny, this early, in a cycle that doesn't bode well for them.

Under the weather today. Thank goodness for telecommuting.

CIC

I agree with Kevin Drum,

There's nothing out of line here.

Monday Monday

In this country we get to start our work week on Monday. Those of us who still have jobs sigh, we can't explain why but somehow it seems appropriate. Given the state of the economy can we be grateful for much beyond that?
Over at Ben Smith’s Blog we scored the quote we’ve been waiting for from no less than General Wesley Clark during his appearance on Face the Nation.

“I don’t think getting in a fighter plane and getting shot down is a qualification to become president.”

Three quesses who the General was talking about.

From the ‘Somebody’s paying attention’ file Mediabistro has a piece on how Nas is beefing with Fox News. Nice to see the youngsters are paying attention. I couldn’t ask for a more powerful way to get the message out, bravo Nas!

Via NewsJunk and CNN, Terry McAuliffe told Candy Crowley that President Bill Clinton and Senator Barack Obama will be having a tete a tete about Mr. Clinton's role in Mr. Obama's campaign. Why would anyone want to tell Candy Crowley anything?

Oh, and that 20 point lead McCain polled in Arizona in April appears to be gone.

Sunday Liberty Blogging

Ms. Liberty before her refurbishment. I took this photo some years ago. I don't remember for sure, but I would bet it was in the late seventies.

Although I was born and raised in the NY metro area I have not been back there in close to twenty years. Truth be told the NY never quite comes out of your blood regardless of how long one has been away. I've been out west since the early eighties, but every once in a while when I get excited the NYer in me shines through.

I knew a woman in Seattle who'd never been to NY so her idea of a NYer was the typical, they're gruff and they're rude and they're not nice people view propagated by some folks. I told her that the size of the city and it's effect on people is something that can only be understood when experienced. I can't say I was the reason, but she did go off and spend a week there. Her outlook changed completely. She came back from her visit and said, "now I understand you better." I asked her what she meant by that. She said that when she first met me she considered me more direct then she was used to, but after her visit she understood that it was not rudeness. It was just a NYer's upbringing that doesn't allow for wasted time and wasted effort. She found NYers direct, but very helpful and very pleasant, not at all what she had expected.

Casus belli

Casus belli - An event used to justify starting a war. Seymour M. Hersh writing in The New Yorker tells a chilling story of how Cheney and Bush have been preparing for and actively fomenting armed conflict with Iran in his piece Preparing the Battlefield.

The potential for escalation became clear in early January, when five Iranian patrol boats, believed to be under the command of the Revolutionary Guard, made a series of aggressive moves toward three Navy warships sailing through the Strait of Hormuz. Initial reports of the incident made public by the Pentagon press office said that the Iranians had transmitted threats, over ship-to-ship radio, to “explode” the American ships. At a White House news conference, the President, on the day he left for an eight-day trip to the Middle East, called the incident “provocative” and “dangerous,” and there was, very briefly, a sense of crisis and of outrage at Iran. “TWO MINUTES FROM WAR” was the headline in one British newspaper.

The crisis was quickly defused by Vice-Admiral Kevin Cosgriff, the commander of U.S. naval forces in the region. No warning shots were fired, the Admiral told the Pentagon press corps on January 7th, via teleconference from his headquarters, in Bahrain. “Yes, it’s more serious than we have seen, but, to put it in context, we do interact with the Iranian Revolutionary Guard and their Navy regularly,” Cosgriff said. “I didn’t get the sense from the reports I was receiving that there was a sense of being afraid of these five boats.”

Admiral Cosgriff’s caution was well founded: within a week, the Pentagon acknowledged that it could not positively identify the Iranian boats as the source of the ominous radio transmission, and press reports suggested that it had instead come from a prankster long known for sending fake messages in the region. Nonetheless, Cosgriff’s demeanor angered Cheney, according to the former senior intelligence official. But a lesson was learned in the incident: The public had supported the idea of retaliation, and was even asking why the U.S. didn’t do more. The former official said that, a few weeks later, a meeting took place in the Vice-President’s office. “The subject was how to create a casus belli between Tehran and Washington,” he said.

Hersh does a superior job of telling the story. Read the whole thing to get a sense of how nothing has changed with this administration; their continued incompetence and their sacrificing of some in the military who have stood up to this lunacy.